September 10
“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
We have just covered twelve critical transformations that we must make, especially those of us who are caught in sins of immorality, pornography, and lust. The entire list was provided on August 23, and below I summarize it again with more brevity:
| FROM Conformed to the World | TO Transformed in Christ |
| 1. Viewing evil as man views it. | 1. Viewing evil as God views it. |
| 2. Loving evil | 2. Hating evil |
| 3. Not caring about the damnation of souls. | 3. Caring deeply about souls being saved. |
| 4. Immersed in deceptive fantasies. | 4. Immersed in the Word of God. |
| 5. Consumed with pleasing ourselves. | 5. Consumed with the pleasing God. |
| 6. Seeking out fellowship with demons | 6. Seeking out fellowship with God |
| 7. Thinking little of purity, holiness, righteousness, self-control, even salvation. | 7. Highly valuing purity, holiness, self-control, salvation, and sanctification. |
| 8. “I am captain of my own destiny.” | 8. “I am a bond-slave of Christ.” |
| 9. Love of self; putting self first. | 9. Love of God and others; hating self |
| 10. Putting on the old self, ignorant, callous, corrupted, deceived, enslaved. | 10. Putting on the new self, renewed in the spirit of the mind, given over to holiness. |
| 11. Instrument of unrighteousness; joined to harlots; dishonoring God in your body | 11. Instrument of righteousness; Temple of the Holy Spirit; glorify God in your body |
| 12. Thinking lightly of the Holy Spirit, grieving and quenching the Spirit. | 12. Being immensely grateful for and being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. |
These may seem like impossible dreams to those who have been caught in habitual immoral thoughts and behaviors. But they are not. “With God, all things are possible,” our glorious Savior tells us. Jesus has overcome, and if we are in Jesus, we can overcome also. These transformations will take work and focus day after day for months and even years. But it is well worth the effort and struggle. Walking by the Spirit is far, far more exhilarating and refreshing and exciting and joyful and peaceable and fulfilling that any passing fleshly pleasure. If we only knew the riches He has in store for each of us individually when we walk in the Spirit in obedience to Him! And no shame or regret with the Spirit! We would never go back to sin again. It is WIN-WIN-WINNER in Jesus vs LOSE-LOSE-LOSER in the flesh. Which will you pursue?